Attaching CPU cooler - need some guidance

dubcat · 1 Oct 2009 at 02:17

Hi - i have bought a gigabyte UD5 mobo, megahalem cooler and CM scout sniper case. I have a couple of questions.

Should i install the cpu cooler and ram to the mobo before i attach the mobo to the case or after?

Can anyone point me to a guide on the best way to apply MX-3 thermal compound please?

Thanks
Dub

dubcat · 1 Oct 2009 at 02:38

just to add - i've seen some people say put a thin line on the cpu vertically and other say horizontally. I'm confused as to what i should do - the cpu is i7 by the way.

dubcat · 1 Oct 2009 at 10:05

Thanks guys. My case has a massive hole where the CPU goes so mounting the fan after the mobo is mounted is an option if you think that is better to do.

If you look at the cpu with the little triangle pointing down and to the left should the line of TIM be horizontal across the middle or vertical top to bottom? I read something confusing - i was left with the impression that for dual core it should be vertical, for quad core it should be horizontal, and for i7 it should be vertical. However, somewhere else i read that for i7 it should be horizontal hence the confusion.

Can anyone comment on the direction of the line of TIM?
Dub

dubcat · 1 Oct 2009 at 10:13

FYI - i read this doc:

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appinstruct/as5/ins_as5_intel_quad_wcap.pdf

but then i read a post that said,

The Core i7 die is positioned running the other way under the IHS though, so instead of applying the AS5 horizontally you need to do it vertically.

It was from another forum and it was just one posting so i was hoping to get views and stuff from you guys.

Dub

dubcat · 1 Oct 2009 at 10:25

Based on this picture, if you rotate the cpu so the little triangle in the corner is in the bottom left, top to bottom line of TIM looks to be the correct way? Am i looking at this correctly?
Dub

dubcat · 1 Oct 2009 at 15:51

here is a useful link which confirms the direction of the line of paste that one should use with i7. Can anyone confirm that these instructions are valid for mx-3 paste which is after all from a completely different manufacturer?

http://www.arcticsilver.com/ins_route_step2intelas5.html